Many associate the Chamber of Commerce with large companies. In Peoria, Illinois, that’s just not the case. Perhaps that’s why Peoria is at the top of the list for communities that are great for small businesses.
The Coasts versus The Heartland
Ask a small business owner in Peoria what they have found to be the best business resource and they are likely to say the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. This is true not only of companies with 100 employees. The same answer is heard from one-person operations.
It has become a trend in Peoria. In fact, it has become so commonplace that it took someone who moved to Peoria to point it out.
Peoria has traditionally been a manufacturing community. It is home to Caterpillar headquarters, http://www.komatsuamerica.com/ Komatsu America and numerous other large manufacturing concerns.
Yet, there currently are 14 web design companies who are members of the Peoria Area Chamber. In spite of being in Silicon Valley, only 11 web design companies are members of the San Francisco chamber. One two web design companies are members of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Why Get Involved?
Kyle Ham, president of Peoria NEXT, explained in a recent interview, “If you have a business in the Heights, the only way people will see your business is if they drive by. The ability for you to network is critical. Joining a Chamber is a first step because (the Chamber has) 1400 other businesses that employ roughly 90,000 to 120,000 employees in the Peoria area who will immediately know that you are in business.”
Ham went on to explain that the real focus of the chamber is for businesses to tell each other’s story and each other’s success along with the successful growth of the region.
Local businesses, even one-person operations, have discovered that there are numerous opportunities within the chamber for networking. There are specific events devoted to networking that are of value to small business.
A downsized copyeditor found a client in need of her services at a Speed Networking event. The local chamber claims that “participants walk away with more new contacts in one morning than some make in six months.”
A local chef embarking on a new career after her job as a software engineer was eliminated, found new clients at the chamber’s Business After Hours. She showed up with a handful of business cards and discovered plenty of busy executives were interested in her private chef service – some as a treat for their wives!
Ham pointed out that, even someone who has been downsized and is looking for work or contemplating a new career choice, should still consider volunteering. Doing so creates an opportunity to discuss the future with others and to find resources for recovering from the downsizing experience.
Meaningful Participation
The chamber consists of numerous committees ranging from communication to transportation needs to legislative action. No one speaks better for small business than a small business owner. The chamber offers small businesses with the opportunity to get involved in a very meaningful way, using their voice effectively in the legislative arena.
How to Get Involved
According to Ham, the best way to get involved is to contact the Heartland Partnership, the umbrella organization that includes the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. “As a nonprofit we rely on a lot of volunteer people to help us to grow and manage. Simply coming in the door is your first step and we will help you find what suites you as well as what we need,” he said.
The Heartland Partnership website provides a list of local contacts online. To schedule an appointment with the chamber, call (309)495-5900.
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